Qualcomm's making a big push to let handset manufacturers know that its mirasol display technology is a sharp way to cut power consumption, thanks to the fact that the screens are really freakin' good at reflecting ambient light. Part of the problem, of course, is that virtually all phones outside of emerging markets demand color displays; mirasol tech isn't quite there yet, but it's getting there, and Qualcomm was showing off a nonfunctional example of what a high-end color mirasol phone could look like (think Motorola Q9, with more mirasol). The Hisense C108 candybar is an ultra low-end unit with the distinction of being the world's first phone to employ a mirasol screen in production, so we just had to play around with it. We admit, it's stellar at reflecting light even when conditions aren't the best, but obviously a backlight's still a necessity for using the phone in darkness. As for the phone itself... well, let's just keep its price point in perspective before we harsh on it, alright?

After months of eyelash batting and heavy petting, Microvision and Motorola have officially exchanged vows. In a deal inked yesterday, Motorola has agreed to help Microvision bring their PicoP laser projection technology to market. Not a surprise really what with Microvision's penchant for using Moto handsets in their marketing collateral. Unfortunately, the agreement looks to amount to the production of a functional prototype only for the time being. While the prospect of an 854 x 480 resolution projection is certainly titillating, we doubt our gadget vanity can withstand the extra chub and battery drain the tech would introduce on our slim, sexy handsets. Then again, the geek cred gained could offset the lack of swank. No worries, we've got several months (if not a couple of years) to grow up before product is ready for consumers.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Soon you may not be able to blame your crappy cameraphone pics on the quality of your handset's imaging equipment, thanks to a tiny new dual-axis gyroscope built using MEMS technology that will be employed for image stabilization on future, multi-megapixel phones. Built by San Jose's InvenSense Corp., the IDG-1000 is a single-chip silicon device as small as a baby's fingernail, or five times smaller than competing solutions based on so-called piezo-type technology. Volume shipments of the new chip are scheduled to begin this fall, so don't be surprised if you see one incorporated into Samsung or LG's next entrant into the ongoing battle for cameraphone resolution supremacy.

[Via The Raw Feed and EE Times]